Maybe some good can come from the untimely, unexpected death of 28-year-old New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard. Boogaard’s parents have reportedly decided to donate his brain to Boston University researchers who are studying the effects of concussions in athletes.
An autopsy on Boogaard has been performed, but results are not expected for several weeks.
Boogaard suffered the second diagnosed concussion of his NHL career during a Dec. 9 fight with Ottawa’s Matt Carkner that ended his season. According to the Daily News, Boogaard had admitted having his “bell rung” at other times. The “bell rung” phrase is standard terminology for suffering some type of head trauma, even if a concussion is never diagnosed.
Boogaard spent the first five years of his career with the Minnesota Wild before signing a free-agent deal with the Rangers last summer. He played 22 games with the Rangers before the season-ending fight. In 277 career games, Boogaard recorded three goals, 13 assists and 589 penalty minutes.